Slippery Slope: Two Down on 7th Ave.
The big news in Slopeland today is that Tea Lounge is closing its location on 7th Avenue. The coffeehouse is calling it quits because its landlord wants to double its rent, according to a story in the Brooklyn Paper. Tea Lounge opened on 7th Ave. and 10th Street in 2001. The business isn’t the only…
The big news in Slopeland today is that Tea Lounge is closing its location on 7th Avenue. The coffeehouse is calling it quits because its landlord wants to double its rent, according to a story in the Brooklyn Paper. Tea Lounge opened on 7th Ave. and 10th Street in 2001. The business isn’t the only one saying sayanora to the South Slope: five blocks down, the crafts store Greenjeans is also clearing out. According to a post on the shop’s blog, the sustainable-wares store is “in the process of looking for a new location that will provide us with more space, more foot traffic, and greater accessibility.” Greenjeans has occupied a storefront on 7th Avenue between 15th and 16th streets for a little over three years, and it’s going to keep selling stuff through its website and at the Flea until it finds a new bricks-and-mortar location.
Tea Lounge to close in July! [Brooklyn Paper]
Greenjeans is Moving [Greenjeans]
Photo of Tea Lounge from Tea Muse.
All the talk about chains is a total overreaction. I just walked down 7th the other day all the way from Flatbush to 15th or so. I took note of the chain stores and there were very few. If I had to guess, I’d say that at least 80% of the businesses are not chains.
I see no cause for alarm. Park Slope’s two retail strips are incredibly diverse and packed with interesting shops and restaurants. The storefronts are mostly small and do not lend themselves well to large national retail chains. There are a few, but it really doesn’t seem like too much to worry about.
Ever been to Broadway on the Upper West Side?
It looks like anytown USA. I think a lot of people still want to live there, though…
Just sayin…All of Manhattan has turned into a chain, but I hear very few people asking why they live there.
People move to Park Slope for the architecture, the community spiriti, the park and the great schools and close proximity to Manhattan.
They do not move here for Tea Lounge and Red Hot (which, quite frankly I never enjoyed either).
“magnolia cupcake would do well.”
Yes, the market for overpriced cupcakes is vibrant now that Sex & the City is back in the news thanks to the movie.
How about opening up a Tulip shop? I hear the Dutch go nuts for Tulips!
Seriously, the points made about Red Hot Schezuan & Tea Lounge having lots of customers yet closing are on the money. These were not businesses looking for markets. They were solid, established and had a reputation.
At some point the only folks who can pay high retail are chains nobody wants. And then what happens? Would I pay a crazy price to live in Park Slope just so I can go to a Papa John’s Pizza or a Dunkin’ Doughnuts.
Keep on squeezing out the mom & pop stores and you’ll soon find more and more people want to leave this city because at a point it just becomes a case of “Why do we live here again?”
magnolia cupcake would do well. it would be a destination type place…
they just opened one on the upper west side and it’s gorgeous.
and packed.
i used to love tea lounge when i first moved here 5 years ago – but in the past 2 years something changed there. all the friendly baristas left and were replaced by young non-chalant brats who clearly weren’t “into” keeping with health codee and the place just became gross
as far as good or great coffee goes. i would rate parco,windsor bagel on on ppw, blue sky muffin, dunkin donuts and CT muffin as some of the best coffee in town – i hated ozzies and i tried gorilla once but it’s toooo bitter and burnt-tasting
what about a great cupcake place?
if a hookah bar opened in park slope, i’d go every week…
how about a nice, slick gay bar on 7th….
anyone, anyone…
while I was in college in Raleigh, NC a Starbucks across from campus went out of business and a hookah bar went in.
best
switch
ever
I love Gorilla’s design sense, but I’m not a fan of the actual coffee.
For the record, I’m not one of the “bitter jealous owners of the other crap cofee places in Park Slope.”
i agree partially, 5:38. i like ozzie’s. and they really seem to be keeping the one on 7th cleaner.
but i will say that i’ve NEVER heard anyone say anything negative about gorilla.
i hear only praise, so i agree that the complainer might indeed be a tea lounge employee or owner…
gorilla could, if they got their act together, do some major expansion and do quite well i believe. they have a good product and a good business model.
only been once (it’s a little far for me for a cup of coffee…i prefer to stay within 5 blocks for that) but it was a great cup.
“A double rent would be hard for even starbucks. You folks are ridiculous to blame them for wanting to leave. If they stay you’ll complain about the over priced coffee.
Gorilla coffee is nasty burned tasting.”
Thank you, owner of Tea Lounge.
My ESP at work! How I know it’s the Tea Lounge: nobody complains about Gorilla except bitter jealous owners of the other crap cofee places in Park Slope.
Tea Lounge coffee is bad. Ozzie’s coffee is terrible. Both are FILTHY. With totally outdated decor.
Gorilla coffee is awesome, the place is clean, and the decor is modern and cool. Not all slimy sofas like Tea Lounge or granny country kitchen gross like Ozzie’s.